Multi-purpose personal hygiene device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides personal-hygiene device and loofah-carrying device. The device includes a plurality of holes thereby allowing moisture to pass directly through the device and allowing the loofah stored within the device to dry. The device includes a cavity in the center, and an opening that is narrower than the center of the cavity, which compresses the loofah, releasing moisture, as the loofah is pulled into the cavity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/589,977 filed Nov. 22, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to personal hygiene apparatuses, particularly as they relate to travel and transport of bath sponges.

BACKGROUND

Appropriate personal hygiene has always been a concern for individuals. There are many systems that seek to improve or assist with the development of improved personal hygiene. One such device is referred to as a loofah. A loofah or loofah sponge is composed of slightly rough fibers that are meant to help exfoliate a user's skin. In addition to exfoliation benefits, a loofah also helps develop smoother skin as the dead skin cells are brushed away from the skin's surface. Many other health benefits are associated with the use of loofahs.

A downside to the further adoption of loofahs, however, is that they are traditionally difficult to transport because they retain water/moisture and are inherently spongy/messy just after use. This means that many people who otherwise use a loofah at home do not tend to carry loofahs during business travel, and further, these people shy away from using loofahs at a local gym or recreation center.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure solve many of the problems associated with transporting and storing loofahs, thereby enabling users to have access to loofahs during travel and at their local gyms/recreation centers.

More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a personal hygiene system and device that helps to carry a loofah and/or store the loofah in a more convenient and secure state.

Among its benefits, the proposed loofah-carrying device can be referred to as a multi-purpose personal hygiene device. The combination of the loofah-carrying device and the loofah itself can be referred to as a personal hygiene system. As a non-limiting example, the proposed loofah-carrying device allows a user to: (1) use the device's exterior as an additional abrasive exfoliating system; (2) have a choice of a mild or a course abrasive surface; (3) compress the loofah during insertion into the carrying device, thereby removing a significant amount of residual water/moisture from the loofah; (4) further ring out the loofah while inside the carrying device; (5) expose the loofah to appropriate ventilation for storage and transport; and (6) mitigate the growth of mold and mildew in the loofah by virtue of the drying features. The loofah-carrying device is further designed to provide a convenient travel-sized storage container for the loofah, but also provides a mechanism for carrying the loofah between a locker storage location and a shower, for example.

This Summary is neither intended or should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail and the Summary as well as in the attached drawings and in the detailed description of the invention. No limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in the Summary. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Several drawings are provided to help explain details of a loofah, a loofah-carrying device, and a personal hygiene system. The drawings are not necessarily to detail, but rather are provided to give a general understanding of the operation of the present disclosure. In addition to the drawings provided at the end of this document, the following drawings are also provided to assist in the understanding of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A depicts a top view of a loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B depicts a side view of the loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1C depicts a top view of the female half of the loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1D depicts a top view of the male half of the loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A depicts a top perspective view of a loofah-carrying device, showing a loofah stored within the device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B depicts a bottom perspective view of the loofah-carrying device shown in FIG. 2A, showing a loofah stored within the device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2C depicts a perspective view of an illustrative loofah-carrying device showing the gap side in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2D depicts a perspective view of the loofah carrying device shown in FIG. 2C in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative configuration of a loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A depicts a side view of an illustrative loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B depicts the loofah-carrying device of FIG. 4A in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a side view of an alternative configuration of a loofah-carrying device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5B is a top view of the loofah-carrying device shown in FIG. 5A in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-5B, which depict various configurations of a loofah-carrying device, a loofah, and a personal hygiene system.

First, with reference initially to FIGS. 1A-D, a first configuration of a loofah-carrying device 100 will be described in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 100 is shown to have a modified cylindrical configuration whereby outer ends of the device are narrower than the center of the device, creating a hollow spherical ring. Said another way, the internal radius of the device at its ends is smaller than an internal radius of the device at its center. The device maintains a substantially constant thickness, so the change in the internal radius from the center to the ends is substantially equal to the change in the external radius from the center to the ends.

The device 100 is shown to include a top portion 104 and a bottom portion 108 connected together at a mating side 116. Although the device 100 is shown as being divided into two portions, it should be appreciated that the device 100 may be formed from a single, unitary piece of material as depicted in FIGS. 2A-D and 5A-B. Alternatively, the device 100 may be constructed from more than two portions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is contemplated, however, that certain manufacturing benefits can be realized with the use of a top portion 104 and bottom portion 108 construction for the device 100. For instance, each portion 104, 108 may be manufactured separately via a molding process and then the two portions 104, 108 may be joined at the mating side 116. Ultrasonic welding, glue/adhesives, friction fittings, etc. may be used to join and hold the two portions 104, 108 together.

In some embodiments, both portions 104, 108 are constructed of a lightweight polymer material such as PVC, PET, PC, silicone, or combinations thereof. It should be appreciated that other types of materials may also be used for the construction of the portions 104, 108. Non-limiting examples of material types that may be used include other plastics and polymers, metal, wood, ceramics, composites, etc.

Opposite the mating side 116, the first portion 104 and second portion 108 have a gap 112 provided therebetween. In some embodiments, the gap 112 has a width between about 0.10 inches and about 0.20 inches. In other embodiments, the gap 112 has a width of about 0.15 inches. As shown in FIGS. 1A-D, the gap 112 may extend the entire length of the device 100 from one end to the other end. This gap 112 can provide several benefits. As one example, the gap 112 can be used to accommodate a string of a loofah to pass therethrough, thereby allowing a user to easily urge the loofah into the cavity 128 of the device 100. As another example, the gap 112 can provide a tolerance for manufacturing the device 100 and further allows the device 100 to bend and flex slightly during use. Said another way, if the device 100 were provided without a gap, then the entirety of the first portion 104 and second portion 108 would be rigidly connected and it would be more difficult to navigate a loofah into the cavity 128. The gap 112 enables one end 140 of the first portion 104 to flex and move relative to an end 148 of the second portion 108. Thus, the size of the gap 112 can be slightly increased or decreased without fracturing the device 100.

The first portion 104 is shown to include a plurality of holes 120. The second portion 108 is also shown to include a plurality of holes 120. In some embodiments, the plurality of holes 120 have a diameter between about 0.10 inches and about 0.30 inches. In other embodiments, the plurality of holes 120 have a diameter of about 0.2 inches. In some embodiments, the holes 120 provide many different benefits. First of all, the holes 120 may enable ventilation for a loofah positioned inside the cavity 128 of the device 100. Secondly, the holes 120 may provide a fluid pathway for moisture leaving the loofah in the cavity 128. Specifically, a user may position the loofah inside the device 100 and then begin spinning the loofah and device by a loofah string. This spinning may impart centripetal forces on the loofah and the moisture retained thereby. The loofah may be retained within the cavity 128 because the cavity 128 is narrower at its top and bottom as compared to its middle. In some embodiments, the radius at the widest point of the cavity 128 is between about 1.25 inches and about 1.5 inches. In other embodiments, the radius at the widest point of the cavity 128 is about 1.40 inches. Meanwhile, the moisture is allowed to exit the cavity 128 via the holes 120, thereby drying the loofah in situ. Once dried, the loofah can be maintained in the cavity 128 of the device 100 until later use is desired.

External openings of the holes 120 may also be used as an exfoliant in addition to using a loofah. Specifically, holes 120 on one of the portions 104 may have a first coarseness or grain whereas holes on the other portion 108 have a different coarseness or grain. This allows a user to select whether to exfoliate with holes 120 from one portion or the other portion as desired.

Further still, the holes 120 are shown to all be parallel to one another rather than being directed towards a center of the device 100. This enables the holes 120 to be manufactured relatively easily as compared to a scenario in which the holes 120 are not parallel with one another. It should be appreciated, however, that either configuration/orientation of holes 120 can be accommodated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Both portions 104, 108 are also shown to have top and bottom ends 172, 176, both of which are opened to the cavity 128. These ends 172, 176 enable the loofah to enter the cavity 128 from either the top or bottom end in a similar manner. Each end 172, 176 is provided with an outer rim portion 168 that represents the outermost part of each end. As better depicted in FIG. 3, but as also present in the configuration of FIGS. 1A-D, an inner rim 164 is connected with the outer rim portion 168 via a beveled edge 160. The combination of the outer rim portion 168, inner rim 164, and beveled edge 160 also provide a moisture extraction mechanism for the device 100. More specifically, when a loofah is passed through the opening 128 of an end 172, 176, the loofah is compressed as it travels from the outer rim portion 168 toward the inner rim 164 across the beveled edge 160. This compression helps extract a significant amount of moisture from the loofah travelling through the opening of the end and into the cavity 128. Once positioned inside the device 100, the loofah can be spun, as discussed above, to further extract moisture from the loofah via the holes 120.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1A-D and 3, the radius of the inner rim 164 is smaller than the radius of the outer rim portion 168, thereby creating the beveled edge 160. One or both of the portions 104, 108 may further be provided with a gap transition 132, that provides a smoother surface of transition from the outer rim portion 168 to the ends 140, 148, respectively. In particular, a gap transition 132 may provide a smooth surface that allows a loofah string or the like to pass easily across as the loofah string is pulled through the gap 112. This helps prevent the loofah string or the loofah itself from getting caught or snagged on the transition into the gap 112 or cavity 128. As can be appreciated, however, the radius of the inner surface of both portions 104, 108 at their center (e.g., halfway between a top end and bottom end) may be larger than a radius of the outer rim portion 168 or a radius of the inner rim 164. This difference in radii helps to retain the loofah within the cavity 128 once the loofah is in place. In some embodiments, the radius at the outer rim is between about 0.75 inches to about 1.25 inches. In other embodiments, the radius at the outer rim is about 1.0 inch. In some embodiments the radius at the inner rim is about 0.6 inches to about 1.1 inches. In other embodiments, the radius at the inner rim is about 0.9 inches.

FIGS. 1C and 1D further depict illustrative mating features that can be used to appropriately align the portions 104, 108 during final construction. Specifically, if the portions 104, 108 are manufactured separately, then one of the portions may include a female mating feature 136 and the other portion may include a corresponding male mating feature 144. In some embodiments, the female mating features 136 are between about 0.1 inches to about 0.2 inches deep and about 0.1 to about 0.25 inches in diameters. In other embodiments, the female mating features 136 are about 0.15 inches deep and about 0.17 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, the male mating features 144 are between about 0.1 inches to about 0.2 inches deep and about 0.1 to about 0.25 inches in diameters. In other embodiments, the male mating features 144 are about 0.14 inches deep and about 0.15 inches in diameter. It will be appreciated that only one female mating feature 136 and only one male mating feature 144 may be used, and it will be appreciated that when multiple female and male mating features 136, 144 are used, that the mating features 136 and 144 can be of differing sizes. These features may be provided on the mating side 116 of each portion 104, 108. The mating features 136, 144 allow fitting between the portions 104, 108 to be achieved relatively easily. In some embodiments, the mating features 136, 144 may further have one or more friction fitting elements that help secure the portions 104, 108 together. For instance, the mating features 136, 144 may snap-fit together to help physically secure the portions 104, 108 to one another.

FIG. 2A depicts an illustrative device 100 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. This particular embodiment shows the device 100 as being constructed from a single piece of material rather than multiple portions 104, 108 as shown in FIGS. 1A-D. A loofah 124 is shown within the cavity 128 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. A loofah string 126 is shown at an end of the loofah 124. As discussed above, a user may hold the loofah string 126 and, for example, pull the string 126 through the gap 112 then spin the loofah 124 and device 100 to release moisture from the loofah 124.

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative configuration of device 100 in which a modified transition feature 152 is provided at the gap transition 132. This modified transition feature 152 operates as a retention member for the loofah once the loofah is positioned in the cavity 128. Specifically, without the modified transition feature, both sides of the gap 112 would open outwardly at the gap transition 132. The modified transition feature 152 help to avoid this expansion of the gap 112 in both directions and simply changes a direction of the gap at the top and bottom ends 172, 176 of the device 100, rather than simply making the gap 112 larger at the top and bottom ends 172, 176. It should be appreciated that while a contouring shape to the gap transition 132 is provided for the modified transition feature 152, such a configuration is not the only possible configuration for that feature. Rather, any type of configuration can be used for the modified transition feature 152 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the loofah-carrying device 100. In FIG. 4A, the male mating features 144 can be seen on the second portion 108. In FIG. 4B, the female mating features 136 are depicted. In some embodiments, the distance between the mating features 136 and 144 is between about 2.0 inches and about 4.0 inches, and the distance will substantially the similar for both the first portion 104 and the second portion 108. The length of each portion 104 and 108 may be about 3.0 inches between the top and bottom ends 172, 176. It will be appreciated that the length of the device 100 may be about 3.0 in embodiments wherein the device 100 is constructed of a single piece of material, such as those embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2A-D and FIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict the loofah-carrying device 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the device 100 is shown without a gap 112. The plurality of holes 120 are shown on two sides of the device 100, and the beveled edge 160, inner rim 164, and the outer rim portion 168 are depicted in FIG. 5B.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of preferred embodiments and while the illustrative versions have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventors to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading this detailed description. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to these specific details, respective apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventor's general inventive concepts.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.

Moreover, though the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A loofah-carrying device, comprising: a top end and opposing bottom end, each providing an opening to a cavity configured to accept a bath sponge, wherein the cavity comprises a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of either opening in the top end and bottom end; and a gap that extends from the top end to the bottom end.
 2. The loofah-carrying device of claim 1, wherein the top end comprises an outer rim portion, an inner rim, and a beveled surface connecting the outer rim portion and the inner rim.
 3. The loofah-carrying device of claim 2, wherein a radius of the outer rim portion is larger than a radius of the inner rim.
 4. The loofah-carrying device of claim 3, wherein an inner radius of the cavity is larger than both the radius of the inner rim and the radius of the outer rim portion.
 5. The loofah-carrying device of claim 3, wherein the gap enables material of the loofah-carrying device to flex.
 6. The loofah-carrying device of claim 1, further comprising: a first portion; and a second portion mated to the first portion at a mating surface, wherein the gap separates the first portion from the second portion.
 7. The loofah-carrying device of claim 6, wherein the first portion and second portion both comprise one or more holes therein that extend from the cavity to outer surfaces of the first and second portions.
 8. The loofah-carrying device of claim 7, wherein the one or more holes are substantially parallel with one another.
 9. The loofah-carrying device of claim 1, wherein the gap comprises a gap transition.
 10. The loofah-carrying device of claim 9, wherein the gap further comprises a modified transition feature that contours at least partially to the gap transition.
 11. The loofah-carrying device of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises a modified cylindrical configuration.
 12. A personal-hygiene device, comprising: a first half having an arcuate shape comprising a first inner surface and a first outer surface; a second half having an arcuate shape and detachably mated to the first half at a mating surface, the second half comprising a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the first half and the second half further comprise a plurality of holes extending from the first and second inner surfaces through the first and second outer surfaces respectively; a gap located between the first half and the second half and substantially opposite the mating surface, wherein the gap separates the first half and the second half; and a cavity having an elongated spherical shape and the cavity being located within the first inner surface and the second inner surface.
 13. The personal-hygiene device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes at the first outer surface have a first coarseness.
 14. The personal-hygiene device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of holes at the second outer surface have a second coarseness.
 15. The personal-hygiene device of claim 14, wherein the first coarseness and the second coarseness are configured to be used as an exfoliant.
 16. The personal-hygiene device of claim 15, further comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the cavity comprises a first end at the first opening and a second end at the second opening, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the cavity is smaller at the first end and the second end than at a center of the cavity.
 17. A loofah-carrying device, comprising; a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion comprised of a flexible material, wherein the first portion and the second portion are detachably mated at a mating space; a cavity, comprising a first end located at a first opening; a second end located at a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening each provide an opening to the cavity, and wherein the cavity comprises a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first opening and the second opening; and a gap that extends from the first end to the second end; wherein the first half and second half both comprise one or more holes therein that extend from the cavity to an outer surface of the first and second halves, and wherein the one or more holes are substantially parallel with one another.
 18. The loofah-carrying device of claim 17, wherein the gap comprises a gap transition and a modified transition feature that contours at least partially to the gap transition.
 19. The loofah-carrying device of claim 18, wherein the gap enables material of the loofah-carrying device to flex.
 20. The loofah-carrying device of claim 19, wherein a user may position a loofah inside the device and spin the loofah and the device by a loofah string. 